What Volkswagen Rookie Cup Report
Where Killarney International Raceway
When Saturday 13 September 2025
Community South Africa National
Leaders clash, head to finale tied after Killarney epic
The Volkswagen Rookie Cup goes into its final round with its leaders on even points following a thrilling outing at the National Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola at the Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town on Saturday. On a day where lady Rookie Berlin Robinson starred and the leaders clashed in the opening heat, Christopher Tait’s second race win over Josh Moore sees them tied on points with one round left to race.
Championship leader Josh Moore stamped his authority on proceedings to snatch pole position in qualifying, with Uzair Khan between him and closest title rivals Christopher Tait and Mauro da Luz. Berlin Robinson lined up fifth ahead of Luke Hill and Luke Corbett. The opening heat however took little time to turn the Rookie championship on its head.
Moore led away, but first lap drama at the end of the back straight saw Josh and title rival Chris Tait clash into Turn 5. Which left both limping around at the back, and Uzair Khan to pick up the pieces and cruise home to the win. Mauro da Luz held an impressive Berlin Robinson off for her best result yet and first podium ahead of Luke Hill and Luke Corbett. Tait and Moore were classified sixth and seventh.
A most interesting second race grid saw Robinson sat on pole from Da Luz, Khan, Hill, Tait, Corbett, and Moore. Berlin got away cleanly while chaos reigned behind as Da Luz lost it under braking, but gathered it back, albeit not before a series of bumps and bangs. Which left Berlin Robinson in a handy lead over Tait, Khan, Hill, a rapidly recovering Moore, da Luz and Corbett.
Robinson stayed ahead until lap 4, when Tait and Khan found a way by. But the young lady was having none of it and Robinson forced her way back past Khan, followed through by Josh Moore. The top six then delivered a spectacular spat, leaving Chris Tait to open up a small gap as he went on to take the win from Moore, Da Luz who muscled his way past Robinson, Khan, the most impressive Robinson, Hill, and Corbett.
The upshot of all that was that Uzair Khan took the day from Mauro da Luz and Berlin Robinson with Luke Hill fourth from Luke Corbett. Rookie Cup log leaders Christopher Tait and Josh Moore placed sixth and seventh overall, but notably now head to the Zwartkops final on 25 October tied on points.
“Our Rookies certainly starred today, even if things boiled over a little at times,” Volkswagen Head of Motorsport Mike Rowe concluded. “That’s just racing and part of what the Rookies must learn to deal with. Championship pressure is certainly going to come into play at Zwartkops where it all comes to a head next. May the best Rookie win!”
A Volkswagen Motorsport initiative open to young racing drivers between 14 and 16 years of age who hold a valid MSA licence, Rookie Cup is designed to deliver a seamless transition for that all-important step up to main circuit motor racing while competing in a pack of identical Volkswagen Polo Vivo GTs through the season.
Rookie Cup works as an academy of motor racing that reaches well beyond just best racing lines, ideal brake markers and racecraft. Recruits are trained in every aspect of racing with an eye to a future career on track Young drivers interested in joining can email driving@vwsa.co.za with the subject line ‘Ref: VW Rookie Cup’, and Volkswagen’s dedicated Rookie Cup team will be in touch.
*Volkswagen Motorsport salutes its Rookie Cup racing partners, Dunlop Tyres, Astron Energy, Sparco and Volkswagen Advanced Driving.
Issued on behalf of Volkswagen Motorsport
Photography by: Abri de Bruyn
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